Israelis celebrated the successful rescue of four hostages from Gaza, while Palestinians mourned the casualties. According to Hamas officials, 274 people were killed and hundreds were injured during the operation.
Israeli special forces engaged in intense gun battles with Palestinian militants in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp to free the captives. The captives were then airlifted to safety by helicopters.
During the operation, the extraction team and the captives faced heavy gunfire and grenade attacks, resulting in the death of a police officer. Israel’s air force also launched strikes that destroyed nearby buildings.
The Gaza health ministry reported 274 fatalities, labeling it the “Nuseirat massacre”. The ministry also stated that 698 people were wounded during the operation.
On the other hand, many Israelis expressed joy at the news of the hostages’ release, who were reported to be in good health. The freed captives included Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv.
The hostages were abducted during the Nova music festival by Hamas on October 7. The army released footage of the captives reuniting with their families, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited them in the hospital.
Following the rescue operation, renewed clashes erupted between Hamas and Israeli forces. Hamas claimed that additional hostages were killed during the operation and warned of worsening conditions for those still in captivity.
Israel’s foreign minister dismissed accusations of war crimes and stated that they would continue to act until all hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed the release of the hostages and called for a ceasefire.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate, with no clear resolution in sight despite international efforts to mediate.
